(Senator) Shelby worried Iraq’s oil will fall into Iran’s hands

[sabra]

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/070209/shelby.shtml

Shelby worried Iraq’s oil will fall into Iran’s hands

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby urged his colleagues to seek victory in Iraq during a speech on the Senate floor Thursday. However, he did not answer or offer a solution to his final question.

...

“As we debate a strategy for Iraq, we need to make certain we paint the big picture and understand what is at stake,” he said. “If we precipitously withdraw our troops, we will open the door for the Iranians to exert even more influence in both Iraq and the Middle East.”

Shelby argued that the future of the U.S., and not only the Middle East, is at risk.

“The oil reserves in Iraq are vast — believed to be only second in size in the Middle East to those of Saudi Arabia,” he said. “Imagine over half the world’s oil in the hands of the mullahs in Tehran.

“Picture the world with another nuclear power that hates the United States and all it stands for. The president is correct when he states that those who say the future of Iraq is not a direct threat to our national security are deluding themselves.”

[shain from kane]

1. They still have to sell it.

[Bandit]

4. You think they don't have buyers standing in line?

China, India, Russia,just to name a few buyers ready and willing to buy it all..America is not the only oil gobbler in the world..This is another reeaso0n why Alternative energy is in the Nations Natioal Interest and Security..Bush* is actively undermining America's Security with his insistance on relying on foreign oil instead of Alternatives...

[ryanmuegge]

8. Yeah, but why think about the bigger picture?

A change in lifestyle? That's a big no!


This is somewhat related, but it's been on my mind latelY: Bush wants a hydrogen economy, which has about is about up there with unicorns in terms of its plausibility. All of this talk about a hydrogen economy is so transparent. The oil companies and the corporate servants in government are touting this as the next big thing when they know it is completely impossible, just as a way of maintaining the status quo. It's like the old cartoons where Bugs Bunny would tie a piece of cake in front of a villains head and watch him fall to his doom from a cliff.

I thought these guys were (the Republicans) were the energy "realists."

[Missy M]

2. Just another neocon accusing Iran of wanting OUR oil...

in Iraq.

[KansDem]

3. Then here, Senator: Go get the damn stuff yourself...!!!

The president is correct when he states that those who say the future of Iraq is not a direct threat to our national security are deluding themselves.--But that was all about WMDs, right, Senator? Not about oil, right, Senator? Or have you changed your mind about why we went to war, Senator? And changing your mind, Senator, after our soldiers are on the ground is not good for the troops.

[PassingFair]

5. It's not about the oil...It's not about the oil.....It's NOT about the oil.....

:puke:

[liberal N proud]

6. If we didn't have a moron for a President running around pissing them off

It wouldn't be a big issue.

These people think that we have a divine right to the oil.

[VegasWolf]

7. How dare Iran take Exxon and Halliburton's oil? For shame! nt

[MGKrebs]

9. But I thought that France, Germany, and Russia didn't join

the Coalition of the Pillaging because they already had contracts to develop Iraqi oilfields? So if we can't let Iraq have it, and we can't let Iran have it, and we can't let 'Old Europe' have it, who's left?

[daleo]

10. They should have left Saddam alone, then

He did an ok job of keeping Iran away from Iraq's oil, if that's what this is really all about.

But the Iraq war justification is a moving target - about this one day, about something else the next day.

[DrZeeLit]

11. Soooo... it's all about oil, huh? Surprise. Surprise. Surprise.

Nah. Couldn't be.

I hope his son or daughter has to go this time.

[TexasLawyer]

12. Imagine over half the world’s oil in the hands of the mullahs in Tehran.

I wish our leaders would have imagined this before they decided to take out Saddam. Saddam was a huge check on Iran's power and influence.

But NOOOOOOO. We had to take out Iraq's Sunni leader and turn the country over to its Shi'ite, Iran-loving majority. And look what's happening. Surprise, surprise!!!

[rodeodance]

13. it is the new Repug/WH talking point------AND I think some will be

persuaded by it.